How to Visit TDCJ - Ferguson Unit (TX)

The TDCJ online visitation scheduler lists several visit types for Ferguson Unit: Regular, Contact, and Video/Tablet. You may also see the option to request an Extended or Special visit when those are available. Not every type is open to every visitor or every time slot. Availability depends on your relationship to the incarcerated person, the unit's visiting-area setup, and the incarcerated person's current visitation privileges.

Contact visits may be held inside the unit in a designated visiting area or outside the main building within the fenced perimeter. Either way, expect a controlled setting. Staff will be monitoring, and there are clear expectations about where you can sit and what you can do.

Traveling a long distance? An extended visit may be possible, but it's not automatic. The warden can approve extended visits for visitors traveling more than 250 miles one way, and they can last up to four hours. Treat this as a request that needs approval, not a guarantee.

Remote video (kiosk) visits can supplement your in-person trips. For eligible incarcerated people, these visits may happen once per month and last up to 60 minutes. If you're trying to stay connected between visits, this is a solid option, but eligibility still applies.

Steps to Follow

• ✓ Check the TDCJ online scheduler for Ferguson Unit to see which visit types are currently offered (Regular, Contact, Video/Tablet), and whether an Extended or Special visit request is available.
• ✓ If you travel more than 250 miles one way, ask the unit about extended-visit approval. Extended visits are at the warden’s discretion and may be up to four hours.
• ✓ If you want a remote video (kiosk) visit, confirm the incarcerated person is eligible and plan around the limit (once per month, up to 60 minutes).

1. Open the TDCJ online scheduler to confirm which visit types are active for Ferguson Unit right now (Regular, Contact, Video/Tablet).
2. Look for Extended or Special visit options during scheduling. Those choices only appear when the system is offering them.

1. Confirm you meet the distance guideline if you plan to request an extended visit (more than 250 miles one way).
2. Ask about the approval process since extended visits are permitted at the warden’s discretion.
3. Verify the maximum visit length so you know what to expect (extended visits may be up to four hours).

1. Confirm eligibility for remote video (kiosk) visits for the incarcerated person you want to visit.
2. Verify the current limits so you schedule realistically (remote video visits may occur once per month for up to 60 minutes).

Before you go, find out whether your contact visit will be held inside the unit's visiting area or outside within the fenced perimeter. It's also worth confirming the conduct rules for contact visits, especially the limits on embracing, kissing, and hand-holding (hands must stay on top of the table in full view of staff).